Heinz Kerry: Bush deficit "fiscally irresponsible'

Wife of Dem hopeful rips president during Allentown visit.

Teresa Heinz Kerry came to an Allentown rally Wednesday to energize supporters of her husband, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, with six days to go until the election.

Several hundred cheering and placard-waving people showed up at the offices of Local 677 of the United Auto Workers union to hear Heinz Kerry talk up her husband's health care plan, make a plea in favor of science and stem cell research, encourage voters to support Democratic congressional candidate Joe Driscoll and to heap criticism on President Bush.

"My husband will show a face of America that's compassionate, but not condescending," Heinz Kerry said. "He will show a face of America that is strong, but not threatening. He will show a face of America that is proud, but not arrogant.

"Remember, that's what we really are as a people. That's the American heart."

This was Heinz Kerry's second trip to the Lehigh Valley in the last two months. The first trip, which included a brunch fund-raiser and a roundtable discussion on health care, was in the middle of a two-week tour of her home state. The philanthropist and widow of U.S. Sen. John Heinz calls Pittsburgh home. Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes might hold the key to the Oval Office.

Joined on stage by Driscoll and state Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, Heinz Kerry was introduced by state Rep. T.J. Rooney, D-Northampton, the chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

Among the dignitaries Rooney acknowledged was former state Sen. Jeanette Reibman, to whom Heinz Kerry blew kisses from the stage and later embraced. The two women struck up a friendship in 1976 when Reibman, a Democrat, and John Heinz, a Republican, both ran for the Senate.

Heinz Kerry ripped Bush on several fronts, accusing him of being "fiscally irresponsible" in running up the federal deficit to more than $400 billion. She also decried the 31 percent increase in Medicare premiums that have taken place over the last two years.

"That's not only immoral. It's robbing people," Heinz Kerry said.

"This administration has raided the Social Security fund in each of the last three years. That is neither smart nor, for Pete's sake, conservative economics."

Heinz Kerry did have nice things to say about Laura Bush, however. She recently took flak for saying in an interview that she did not even know if the first lady had ever held a job. Laura Bush was a librarian and teacher for 10 years.

"I know now she worked for 10 years," Heinz Kerry said, to laughter and snickers. "No fun. I think there is no more important job than making sure children learn. She's a nice lady. She has been a good wife for her husband."

The partisan crowd still hissed at the Bush name.

"We're all different," Heinz Kerry said. "But she has been very nice to me."